Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets given huge reality check by the Denver Broncos as they suffer 10-9 defeat after dismal offensive performance

Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets were brought crashing back down to earth on Sunday after they suffered a miserable 10-9 defeat by the Denver Broncos.

Jets kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a 50-yard field goal with just 44 seconds left to cap off a dismal day for Robert Saleh, whose team looked far from one capable of competing for Super Bowl glory.

The Jets were awful offensively and looked eerily similar to last season when Zach Wilson, who was stood on the Broncos sideline here, looked lost at quarterback in the wake of Rodgers' devastating Achilles injury. 

The frustrations of last year appeared to be long gone after the returning Rodgers led the Jets to a 2-1 start.

But, 10 days after they dismantled the New England Patriots 24-3 here at MetLife Stadium, the Jets were given a brutal reality check.

Courtland Sutton scored the only touchdown of the game as Denver emerged from their difficult double-header on the road with huge victories over the Jets and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The result also vindicated Broncos coach Sean Payton, who made headlines before last season when he said Nathaniel Hackett did 'one of the worst coaching jobs in the history of the NFL' during a 4-11 stint in Denver in 2022. 

Hackett, now the Jets' offensive coordinator, did little to dismiss Payton's claims on Sunday.

'It was obviously sloppy,' a downcast Saleh admitted afterwards.

'They're already a good defense and we made it easier for them.

'We had opportunities. We had the ball twice with the chance to win and didn't execute. We had too many self-inflicted wounds. It was a major step back.'

It was by far the toughest day Rodgers has endured this season. He took hit after hit and needed treatment on a leg injury in the closing stages.

The 40-year-old threw for 225 yards on 24-for-42 passing and got little help from the Jets' rushing attack. Star running back Breece Hall was held to four yards on 10 carries, with New York collecting only 64 yards on the ground.

In a dismal start to the game as rain battered fans in the stands, neither team managed to pick up a first down until a defensive pass interference call set New York up at the Broncos one-yard line with 53 seconds left in the first quarter.

Like most of the afternoon, the Jets couldn't take advantage and they had to settle for Zuerlein's 23-yard field goal nine seconds into the second quarter.

Zuerlein booted a 35-yarder as time expired in the first half to send New York into the break up 6-0.

The Broncos were no better though with their rookie quarterback Bo Nix completing just seven of 15 passes for a staggering negative-seven yards in the first half. 

Things got worse for Denver when running back Tyler Badie was put on a back board and carted from the sideline before the start of the second quarter.

Badie caught a pass from Bo Nix on a third down play and was immediately hit by Quincy Williams for a four-yard loss and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by Michael Carter II for the Jets.

Badie came off the field, but then was seen lying on his back and being looked at by trainers on the sideline. He was then secured on a board and lifted onto a cart before being taken from the field.

Nix found Courtland Sutton for an eight-yard touchdown three minutes into the third quarter to stun the home fans. The Jets response was hardly emphatic. More drives ended abruptly, more penalties were conceded. 

As the clock ticked into the fourth quarter and the Jets had a third down in a promising position, Rodgers had no choice but to run it out of bounds. He looked around, frustrated, and just stopped himself from slamming the ball down in anger.

Zuerlein kicked the Jets back in front 9-7 but a Broncos drive fueled by the running of Javonte Williams in response yielded a field goal that put the visitors back in front.

The Jets tried to find a response but frustrations were growing on offense and, when they had to go for it on fourth down, Rodgers was sacked.

It looked like the game had gone at that point but the Broncos went three and out, giving the Jets one more chance.

The best they could do was settle for a field goal at the 50-yard line. With the rain lashing down, Zuerlein missed and that sparked wild celebrations on the Denver sideline. 

More to follow.